32 Comments

musically i think this is among their best songs. every member in this band contributes to the song, the bassline that thunders out at just the right moments, that fuckin solo... the contrast of verse/bridge/chorus, the way the tempo slows... it makes me want to slit my wrists.

as for the lyrics, definitely about a woman getting pregnant, i had a feeling it was the virgin mary, "dude came down" - god descended from heaven to impregnate her. it would fit with the religious theme of a lot of the songs on this album (most specifically man in the box, bleed the freak...) also the mention of a soul.

but yeah i see everyones point that its probably a song written from the point of view of a kid whose dad left them. I like the way he refers to his dad as "some dude". and it makes sense that he asks, is he like his father, "reflection"; did he catch the disease (tendency to be a bad father) genetically ("contagious"), and will he in turn defile someone with his love the way his biological father left him.

mostly i love the darkness of the word sunshine. its a name that parents often call their kids, he's using it ironically and that's accentuated by the dark music. "sweet love, my labour" - his mother loves him even though it was such a burden bringing him up alone. The word "labour" is ambiguous - it refers to his birth, but labour also means hard work, so his birth caused hard work for his mother. I like it.

General CommentNo relation, I'd say the songs about Layne's father.
"Then some dude came down to touch the Mother
Mother touched and dude ain't here no more." I think refers to how Layne's father met Layne's mother, had sex with her (touched the mother), then she had Layne, and then Layne's father left (Dude ain't here no more).

General CommentMaybe not rape, just my opinion, but about a guy who didn't own up to his responsibilty leaving the mother alone to raise a child by herself thus leaving many questions to be answered by a child growing up and even into adulthood. I think the song further implies that the mother accepts her "burden" and does not resent or regret this child. I think this song is one of their most soulfull songs with a great solo by Jerry.

General CommentThe protagonist is sickened and ashamed, probably of himself, or maybe not only himself and finds relief in what he refers to as "sunshine".
My guess is also that this one's about a mother raising a child on her own. It's important to note that (by my opinion) the verses are the child's words and in the chorus are the mother's.

Anyway,this song is No.1 AIC in my list and I usually don't have favorite songs, but this one means so much to me, I love it!

Perhaps as well you might think of the protagonist as having lost a father (or male figure) for reasons beyond one's control.. longing for a connection that clearly isn't reciprocated. Doesn't really have to be the father, but since the mother was and is addressed forthright, it kind of made more sense it'd be a 'male' role model...

'Then some dude came down to touch the Mother, Mother touched, and dude ain't here no more... Suck your woman down'

'to brand some name across my back... so you care? Find someone to tell you!'

lastly- perhaps he sees himself becoming the same person he hated all this time....wondering whether or not this is the case and looking for 'mother' to answer him truthfully...worrying whether he's to be the same 'hurting' type as what he's been shown....

then realizing- why bother self reflecting- no one cares to answer him anyways..

Agreed with your interpretation, and the general consensus. Jerry Cantrell wrote this song after the passing of his mother, so it's an emotional one (with a cool riff).

The lyric "Then some dude came down to touch the mother" does seem reminiscent of the Bible (the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary) - perhaps a way of portraying the Mother as a sort of saintly woman, while defacing the father as "some dude."

I agree he seems to be comparing himself to his father (who apparently runs off), and questioning himself as a person.

But his mother comforts him and loves him (affectionately calling him "sunshine"), tells him "don't mind" and he ceases to worry ("I don't care no more") - all is right in the world because of a mother's love.

General Commentfrom what I get, the verses are about some guy who raped a woman"am I too congtagious full of sick desire" and the chorus seems like someone telling the story of the rape "then some dude came down to tocuh the Mother" anyways.... great song

General Commentthe guy earlier got it spot on, its about a man abandoning a women he got pregnant (be it his GF or whatever), sung from the point of view of the person who grew up without that father and is recounting the story. or it could just be a love song. anyway, a great song.